Once you have made all the necessary repairs and prepared the surfaces, it’s time to paint—almost. Before you begin any exterior project, you must protect the surrounding area with thick cotton dropcloths. Use 3-inch tape to mask roofing or other surfaces that will not be coated but may become splattered with paint. Carry a scraper with you in case you come across small areas of loose paint that you missed during surface preparation. When everything is ready, use the techniques shown below.

Paint in fair (above 50 degrees F.), dry weather; cooler temperatures mean poor adherence. Apply paint after the morning dew dries, and stop at least 2 hours before the evening dampness sets in. Avoid painting in direct sunlight; if possible, follow the sun around the house. Do not apply solvent-thinned paints to cool surfaces that will be heated by the sun in a few hours; this may cause the paint to blister.

For the best possible finish, paint the overhangs and gutters, and then the main surfaces from the top down, and then the trim. Finish with the shutters, railings, porch, and foundation.

Most people paint the trim a different color than the siding. If that is your plan, wait until the siding has completely dried before beginning the trim. Then apply masking tape to protect the siding from the trim paint, and remove the tape immediately after finishing.

Next, paint exterior doors and windows. Shutters are easier to paint if you remove them and use a power sprayer. If you decide to paint shutters with a brush, begin with the joints where the louvers meet the frame, then paint the louvers, and finally paint the frame. Paint against the grain, and finish by painting with the grain.

Let a wall dry fully before deciding whether touchups are needed. A paint finish often will look patchy or uneven until it has fully dried.

Painting Siding & Trim

1. For the best results, first brush on a coat of primer—this is a must for any bare wood. By tinting the primer to a color that is similar to your finish color, you will ensure a better finish.

2. Beginning at the top of a wall, apply the finish coat with a high-quality paintbrush. Dip the brush no more than 1 inch into the paint. When painting lap siding, start by painting along the bottom edges of horizontal boards. To prevent drips and lap marks, paint all the way across three or four boards.

3. Dip the brush about 2 inches into the paint, and tap it against the side of the bucket to clear paint from one side. Then turn the brush parallel to the ground as you lift it. Quickly press the paint-heavy side of the brush against the surface, spreading the paint in a side-to-side motion on horizontal siding or up and down on vertical siding.

4. When painting windows, draw a lightly loaded tapered sash brush along mullions, allowing a slight bead of paint to lap onto the glass. Before the paint dries, remove it from the glass with a rag wrapped around the end of a putty knife. Holding it at an angle, pull it along the joint between the frame and the glass. You can remove dry paint with a razor blade.

5. To ensure good coverage on the face of the trim, begin applying the paint by brushing perpendicular to the direction of the wood grain. When painting the sash of an operable window, open it so that it won’t be sealed shut by paint.

6. When painting trim that abuts siding, mask the siding with painter’s tape. First, paint perpendicular to the wood grain to work the paint in. Then, to smooth out the paint and create an even cover, finish painting by brushing in line with the grain. Turn the brush diagonally to the trim if it is wider than the trim. Alternatively, you can apply paint with a short trim roller and then work it in with a brush, painting in line with the grain.

More about Exterior Painting & Staining:

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